How a 1980s country hit became a hip-hop anthem
In short: In 1998, a rap track achieved global success by blending street culture with a country classic. By interpolating a 1983 hit and sampling James Brown, Pras and Wyclef Jean created a cultural bridge that reached number one across Europe and the United States.
Released on May 11, 1998, "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)" served as the debut solo single for rapper Pras. Achieving huge sales, the single topped the charts in New Zealand plus various European nations like the Netherlands, Ireland, and Germany. The Billboard Hot 100 saw it stay consistently high within the US, hitting a five-week peak at number 15. RIAA platinum status was granted to the track, which also secured a 1999 Grammy nod for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
The song's DNA is a complex web of musical history. It features an interpolation of the 1983 single "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, which was originally written by the Bee Gees. Because of this, the Gibb brothers—Barry, Robin, and Maurice—are credited as songwriters. Additionally, the track samples James Brown's "Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved," written by Brown, Bobby Byrd, and Ron Lenhoff. This layering of country, disco-era songwriting, and funk creates the unique "left-field" sound described by critics.
The casting of the song's vocals was a point of internal debate. Mýa revealed that Interscope Records initially wanted to hire more established singers, such as Mary J. Blige, for the chorus. However, Wu-Tang Clan member Ol' Dirty Bastard intervened. After listening to Mýa's self-titled debut album, he persuaded Pras and Wyclef Jean to use her vocals instead. Critics noted that her "buttery rendering" provided a levelheaded contrast to the "scratchy" growls of ODB and the track's slinky guitar.
The song's visual identity was tied to the 1998 film Bulworth, featuring a music video directed by Francis Lawrence. The video utilized a surrealist theme where a white politician, played by Warren Beatty, reveals himself to be Pras in a mask. The track has since maintained a long cultural life, appearing in "Weird Al" Yankovic's 1999 polka medley and covered by Taylor Swift during her 2011 Speak Now World Tour, where she called it her "second grade anthem."
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